While the JD(S) is looking to rope in Sriramulu - who is disgruntled with the BJP - the saffron party is trying to make JD(S) district unit president and former MLA, N R Suryanarayana Reddy, to switch sides and lead the party in the mining district.

The Pro-Sriramulu MPs and MLAs have been suspended from the party.  Though Karunakara Reddy has publicly not expressed his support for the former health minister, he has not campaigned for the BJP candidate either.

Chief Minister D V Sada­nanda Gowda, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, BJP State President K S Eshwarappa and an array of ministers are camping in the constituency to ensure the victory of their candidate, Gadilingappa.

They are also busy looking for an alternative leader for their party in the district.
A number of leaders like former MP Kolur Basavanagouda, Central Relief Committee President K Ramalingappa, BJP district unit president Guttiganuru Viruprakshagowda, Sahukar Satishbabu and others - who had gone into oblivion due to the domination of the Reddys and Sriramulu - have decided to remain with the party. But the party leaders are looking for a leader stronger than them to lead it in Bellary.

Suryanarayana Reddy did not follow JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy’s directive to campaign for Sriramulu.

Instead, Reddy managed to get Kumaraswamy to announce that the party would support all Independents in the bypoll.

The former chief minister is said to have taken Reddy’s advice on the basis that supporting the Reddys and Sriramulu - who had in the past tormented the JD(S) leaders and workers - would be at its own peril.

However, Kumaraswamy is likely to induct Sriramulu into the JD(S) if he wins the bypoll. The BJP is trying to net Suryanarayana Reddy on the grounds that his position in that party would be at stake if Sriramulu joins the JD(S).

Co-operation Minister Lakshman Savadi met his friend Suryanarayana Reddy on Saturday and held discussions with him.  But said it was only a courtesy call.